The sky was filled with hundreds of thousands of allied Immortal Realm forces, surrounding Ye Ling. Yet, not a single soul dared to step forward.
The aura emanating from Ye Ling had completely subdued every immortal and god present.
Among the vast army, a soldier who didn't recognize Ye Ling felt his overwhelming presence and quietly asked his companion, "Who is that guy? He's demanding respect from our hundreds of thousands of troops just by showing up. Even a Saint wouldn't dare to be this arrogant!"
The soldier beside him jolted at his companion's words, quickly reaching out to cover his mouth and whispering nervously, "Shh! Are you trying to die? That's Emperor Ye Ling, whose name has recently shaken the Three Realms!"
"That great figure belongs to no divine kingdom, and no one in the Three Realms can control him! He's someone who kills without batting an eye!"
"I heard that even Izanagi and Amaterasu from Takamagahara were killed by Ye Ling. For us insignificant ants, he could crush us with a single little finger! Didn't you see our commander sweating profusely from fear?"
"He's Emperor Ye Ling? That terrifying?" The soldier's pupils constricted sharply upon hearing his companion's words. He immediately shut his mouth and remained silent, fearing Ye Ling might fixate on him.
Similar conversations were happening frequently within the armies of various divine kingdoms. The reputation of Emperor Ye Ling began to spread with astonishing speed throughout the ranks.
Within the formation of one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, Nezha asked Li Jing, "Father, Ye Ling has truly interfered. What should we do now? Should we retreat?"
Li Jing's brow furrowed, and he said solemnly, "Although I don't particularly wish to fight, capturing the demon from the Ten Thousand Underworld Mountains was an order from the Heavenly Emperor. For this, the Heavenly Emperor forced me to sign a military pledge. If we fail this time, I fear..."
Hearing Li Jing's words, Nezha clenched his Fire-Tipped Spear and gritted his teeth, "If that's the case, then let your son fight and confront Emperor Ye..."
Before Nezha could finish, Li Jing shook his head, "Don't force yourself. Ye Ling is at the Saint realm, his cultivation might be no less than the Heavenly Emperor's. You going would be suicide."
Nezha anxiously asked, "But if I don't go, what will happen to you, Father?"
Li Jing stroked his beard and said, "I have my own plans. You may withdraw!"
Seeing Li Jing's order, Nezha could only sigh helplessly, bowed to Li Jing, and said, "Yes..."
After dismissing Nezha, Li Jing took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and then summoned two personal guards. He then ascended on the clouds and flew out of the army.
Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of thousands of troops, Li Jing approached Ye Ling and bowed, "This humble immortal, Li Jing, pays his respects to the Emperor."
"May I ask the Emperor, what is the specific reason for your presence here?"
Ye Ling smiled and said, "King Li, there is no need for such formality. I have come only to stop the conflict, and I bear no ill will towards you."
"To stop the conflict?" Li Jing blinked, then glanced at the pit below, and asked again, "May I ask what relationship the Emperor has with that demon?"
Ye Ling retorted, "I am rather curious, how did King Li determine that fellow to be a demon?"
"As far as I know, that fellow has been trapped in the Ten Thousand Underworld Mountains for hundreds of thousands of years. During this time, he has never caused any trouble in the Three Realms. Why would the Immortal Realm send such a large allied force to annihilate him?"
"To declare someone a demon without any evidence, is this perhaps the way the Heavenly Court operates?"
"This..." Li Jing was genuinely stumped by Ye Ling's question and didn't know how to respond.
This annihilation was entirely the Heavenly Emperor's command. The matter of Chu Yuan being a demon was also unilaterally decided by the Heavenly Emperor, leaving no room for others to question.
As for the true identity of that demon, the Heavenly Emperor had not revealed even a single word!
Seeing Li Jing's troubled expression, Ye Ling smiled again, "It's fine if you can't answer. Let's get back to the main topic..."
"I will protect the fellow below. If you insist on taking his life, you may as well order the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers behind you to attack. As long as one soldier can get past me, I will allow you to take his life."
"Of course, if you choose to act, you must bear the consequences."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Li Jing couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Emperor, are you not making things difficult for us? With your cultivation, how can my small contingent of soldiers possibly contend with you?"
Ye Ling suddenly said coldly, "Then take your troops and retreat!"
Ye Ling's voice suddenly turned cold, causing Li Jing to tremble, his very soul beginning to shiver.
He felt an bone-chilling killing intent emanating from Ye Ling!
"Emperor..."
Li Jing looked at Ye Ling, the hand holding the Linglong Pagoda trembling slightly.
He had a premonition that if he insisted on attacking further, not only he himself, but all ten thousand of his heavenly soldiers and generals would be annihilated!
Realizing that Ye Ling was an insurmountable opponent, Li Jing pursed his lips bitterly and bowed to Ye Ling, "This humble immortal understands. This humble immortal will now order a retreat..."
Although returning without success would surely incur the Heavenly Emperor's punishment, it was far better than burying all ten thousand of his soldiers here.
Ye Ling watched Li Jing turn to leave and said, "King Li, I would trouble you to deliver a message."
Li Jing paused, turned back, and bowed to Ye Ling again, "Please, Emperor, instruct me."
Ye Ling said, "When you return, tell the Heavenly Emperor that if he wants Chu Yuan's power, he should come and take it himself. There's no need to be secretive; it befits his status as the ruler of a nation."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Li Jing's entire body trembled, and a storm of shock surged within his heart!
However, as a seasoned general, he managed to maintain some composure.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Li Jing bowed deeply to Ye Ling once more, "This humble immortal... will certainly deliver the Emperor's message."
With this bow, Li Jing seemed to glimpse the beginning of turmoil in the Immortal Realm.
Ye Ling was provoking the Heavenly Emperor.
After paying his deep respects to Ye Ling, Li Jing did not linger. He led the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals away, returning to the Immortal Realm to report the events in the Underworld.
The commanders of the other divine kingdom armies, seeing the Heavenly Court's withdrawal, dared not continue their advance and also sounded the retreat gong, ordering their forces back to the Immortal Realm.
As Ye Ling watched the various divine kingdoms withdraw one after another, he called out loudly to the commanders of these armies, "Gentlemen, when you return, I would also trouble you to deliver a message to your masters!"
"If you want Chu Yuan's power, come and take it yourselves. If anyone dares to use such methods again as they did today, then do not blame me for personally visiting!"
As Ye Ling's voice fell, it immediately stirred up a thousand waves. The hundreds of thousands of allied Immortal Realm forces erupted in an uproar!
All the immortals and gods present stared at Ye Ling with disbelief, unable to comprehend what they had just heard!
Was Ye Ling... provoking the entire Immortal Realm?
Behind all the armies present, each represented a divine kingdom, and behind each divine kingdom stood a Saint!
Were Ye Ling's words not a provocation to the Saints behind the various divine kingdoms?
This was courting death!
Below, Black and White Impermanence and Meng Po were also stunned, gazing blankly at Ye Ling in the sky, feeling as if they were watching an unparalleled demon god...
Emperor... so arrogant!